Consider, if, without too great a force upon your inclinations, you can behave with that condescension and indulgence to a man who has hastened advanced age upon himself, which I have thought from your temper I might hope.

I have said a great deal, because you, ladies, were silent; and because explicitness in every case becomes the proposer.  Give me leave to withdraw for a few moments.

I withdrew, accordingly, to the brothers and sister.  I did not think I ought to mention to them the proposal I had made:  it might perhaps have engaged them all in its favour, as it was of such evident advantage to the whole family; and that might have imposed a difficulty on the lady, that neither for her own sake, nor my lord’s, it would have been just to lay upon her.

Lady Mansfield came out to me, and said, I presume, sir, as we are a family which misfortune as well as love, has closely bound together, you will allow it to be mentioned—­

To the whole family, madam!—­By all means.  I wanted only first to know, whether Miss Mansfield’s affections were disengaged:  and now you shall give me leave to attend Miss Mansfield.  I am a party for my Lord W——­:  Miss Mansfield is a party:  your debates will be the more free in our absence.  If I find her averse, believe me, madam, I will not endeavour to persuade her.  On the contrary, if she declare against accepting the proposal, I will be her advocate, though every one else should vote in its favour.

The brothers and sister looked upon one another:  I left the mother to propose it to them; and stept into the inner parlour to Miss Mansfield.

She was sitting with her back to the door, in a meditating posture.  She started at my entrance.

I talked of indifferent subjects, in order to divert her from the important one, that had taken up her whole attention.

It would have been a degree of oppression to her to have entered with her upon a subject of so much consequence to her while we were alone; and when her not having given a negative, was to be taken as a modest affirmative.

Lady Mansfield soon joined us—­My dear daughter, said she, we are all unanimous.  We have agreed to leave every thing to Sir Charles Grandison:  and we hope you will.

She was silent.  I will only ask you, madam, said I, to her, if you have any wish to take time to consider of the matter?  Do you think you shall be easier in your mind, if you take time?—­She was silent.

I will not at this time, my good Miss Mansfield, urge you further.  I will make my report to Lord W——­, and you shall be sure of his joyful approbation of the steps I have taken, before your final consent shall be asked for.  But that I may not be employed in a doubtful cause, let me be commissioned to tell my lord, that you are disengaged; and that you wholly resign yourself to your mother’s advice.

She bowed her head.

And that you, madam, to Lady Mansfield, are not averse to enter into treaty upon this important subject.